Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) Foundation is celebrating the success of its 6th annual Kickstart Your Heart campaign, which raised $151,299 in support of critical laboratory equipment at GBGH. The two‑week campaign ran from February 1–20, 2026, rallying donors and local businesses across North Simcoe.
This year’s success was amplified by the generosity of three matching gift donors – Conrad & Donna Huber, Steve & Brenda, and Doug Lamon – whose leadership inspired the community to give and helped maximize the impact of every donation.
“The Kickstart Your Heart campaign was first inspired by local philanthropists Conrad and Donna Huber in 2021,” says Robyn Kaczanowski, community giving officer, GBGH Foundation. “Their love for each other and for this community brought the idea to life, and six years later, it continues to bring people together around a shared goal — supporting excellent care close to home.”
Funds raised through the 2026 campaign are being invested into GBGH’s Laboratory, helping to fund essential equipment across the lab, including a new laboratory refrigerator and freezer, as well as a urinalysis analyzer used to process patient samples. These upgrades support the lab’s ability to handle high testing volumes efficiently and safely.
“We were very excited to be part of the Kickstart Your Heart campaign, bringing awareness to the lab, as we’re often a hidden‑away department that no one sees,” says Jen Stewart, senior medical laboratory technologist at GBGH. “We’re an integral part of the hospital care team, and we’re so grateful to receive support through initiatives like this.”
The campaign once again received strong support from local media partners Pure Country 106 and Bounce Radio 104.1, who promoted Kickstart Your Heart on‑air and online. As part of the campaign, the stations hosted a Heart Balloon Selfie Contest, encouraging community members to visit and support participating businesses.
This year, 18 local business partners took part, collectively raising an additional $7,561 for the campaign through creative promotions and community‑driven fundraising.
“Our business and media partners play such an important role in the success of Kickstart Your Heart,” says Robyn Blanchet, key relationships officer, GBGH Foundation. “Their enthusiasm and creativity help turn a fundraising campaign into a community celebration.”
Now in its sixth year, Kickstart Your Heart continues to demonstrate the power of community giving — ensuring GBGH’s healthcare teams have the tools they need to deliver timely, high‑quality care for patients today and into the future.
